Indian barber attacked-in Dubai

Dubai, Oct 19 (UNI) An Indian barber, who was badly beaten by a gang of local youths, in Bahrain capital of Manama could be a victim of racist crime, news reports said.

Police and Indian embassy officials are investigating the attack on Mustafa V Hamza, 30, from Kerala who was bound, gagged, bundled into an alleyway, beaten and slashed with a carpet knife allegedly by five Bahrainis.

He was robbed of BD41 (Rs 4,900), but officials said they were probing the possibility that the attack on Friday night was racially motivated.

The father of two and earning BD 60 (Rs 7,200) per month said he thought he was being mugged, but he said that the youths taunted him saying he did not have a Bahraini passport.

Hamza, from Palakkad in Kerala, said two other men, also Bahrainis, approached them to find out what was going on. However, instead of helping him they joined in the attack.

''They kept screaming 'Kill the Indian,'' said Hamza, who arrived in Bahrain almost three years ago.

Indians and Pakistanis in the Sanabis area in Manama are being terrorised by such gangs and even small boys throw stones at Indians, he said.

UNI XC SY MIR HT1715